Pipe-gripping device



Jan. 19 1926. 1,570,069

P. G. LEONARD PIPE GRIPPING DEVICE Filed Feb. 16, 1925 Aff/19km;

(evice, and has for its main Patented Jan. 19, 1926.

vPATENT OFFICE.

PETER austral' LEONARD, oF'wEs'r TULSA,

OKLAHOMA.

PIPE-GBTPPTNG DEVICE.

Application mea February 1e, 1925. serial No, 9,493.

To all 'wlwm it may concer/n: l

Be it known that I, PETER GUs'rAr LEONARD, a subject of the King of Sweden, and a resident of the city,of West Tulsa, county of Tulsa, and State of Oklahoma, have invented certain-new and useful Improvements in a Pipe-Gripping Device, of which the following is a specification. p

My invention pertains to a pipe gripping object to provide a reliable, safe gripping device or tubing catcher which 4w1ll positively catch within a pipe and l remain in operative. position therein, and Without rupturing or cutting through the pipe wall.

Other objects will' appear hereinafter. The invention consists in the combinations and 'arrangements .of parts' hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention lwill be best understood by reference to l the accompanying drawings forming a part of this. Specification, and in Which,

Fig. 1 is an lelevational viewof my .gripshown in an inoperative posiL` ping device, tion in a pipe ;l

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view thereof taken Von line 2-2 of Fig. S1; and f Figs. 3 and 4 are cross sectional views taken on lines 3--3 and 4-4 opf- Figs. 1 and 2, respectively.

The forms of-invention villustrated. lcom.-l

prises a tube or member 8 which is provided with a conical portion 9 and a neck 10 thereon, preferably integral withthe tube, an annular ledge orhookfmeans 11 provided at the junction of conical portion 9 and its neck 10, and a spring seat 12 is .formed on the upper end of said neck. A

' 20 is formed on each e sleeve 13 is mounted to slide `lon said tube and to move over said neck, andv ippin elements 14- are swingably mounte on an normally depend. from pivot pins 15`placed in ears 16 formed around said sleeve, said elements being broader at their free lower ends to cooperate with said conical portion for moving their teeth'17 into positive gripping engagement with the surrounding pipe 18,Y into which the device is inserted. finger 19 extends above each gripping element to engage the sleeve and limit the outward swinging movement of the element, especially when entering the pipe. A hook ement 10, to be engaged and actuated bythe hook means or ledge 11 on the conical portion, for positively i or inoperative position,

ing for use in' pumplng lwith my device, the

being with my' gripping normally in released and also to positively withdraw or release the elements after they have'been firmly driven intopipe gripping position.

Means 1s provided, which cooperates with retaining the elements the gripping elements 14 and the conical,

portion 9, for normally retaining the elements inoperative, and to move said elements into positive gripping position upon sudden descent ofthe device. This means preferably includesa coiled spring 21 .mountedi-n sleeve 13 and bearing between said'sleeve and the seat 12 on the neck of conical portion 9, said spring being arranged and7'constructed of-.proper `size 'and material to normally support less than the total weight of sleeve 13 and the attached gripping elements 14, so that the sleeve descends on neck 10 and the hooks 2() substantially rest on the ledge 11 when-the device is gradually or normally lowered into a pipe.

Guide means 22, with guide arms "23, extending close to the inner surface of the .surrounding pipe, above and'below the sleeve and elements, and a threaded collar r24 with an` attached tube 25, similar to tube -8, is threaded on said tube '8, for-.lowering the4 tube with the gri ping device into the pipe, toA adapt said tubfrom the well to the surface.

In installing or lowering tubing equipped tubing with the device reasonable rate into the pipe at a 25, until means of the tube is lowered of speed, as by the lowerendoLthe tubing reachesthe bot-' tom ofthe well; but, in case such tubing device attached thereto should drop' or descend suddenly, then the oil therethrough are mountedon tube 8 p spring 21 b ecomes effective to separate sleeve l'from. the conical portion 9, in other words, the spring becomes suliciently strong to force the member 8 with the 'conical portion 9 downward at a faster rate of speed than `sleeve 18, whereby the conical portionforces the gripping elements 14 into engagement with the pipe, and this engagement stops the movement of the elements and sleeve whereupon the sleeve forces the elements into more positive contact with said pi e.-

If it is desired to removethe tu ing with the gripping device', the tube 25 and tube 8 with the conical portion 9 can be moved 'upwards until ledge 11 engages hook portions 2O on the" elements 14 to force said ,elements into released position, whereupon the tubing with the device may be withdrawn; and if desired, the tube 25 with collar 24 may also be unthreaded from tube 8 and withdrawn therefrom.

While i have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction :for carrying my invention into etiect, this is capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. i, therefore,ldo not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims. i Having described my invention, what i claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. Ai pipe gripping device comprising a member with gripping elements pivoted thereon, spring actuated means in said inember and having a portion for moving said elements into pipe gripping position, and stop means to engage said gripping elements and force release movement thereof.

2. A pipe gripping device comprising a member with gripping elements mounted thereon, means movably mounted in s aid member and having a portion for forcing said elements into pipe gripping position, and means on the gripping elements for limiting excess outward movement of said elements.

3. A pipe gripping device comprising a sleeve, gripping elements pivotaliy dependin from said sleeve, a member slidable in said sleeve and having a conical portion to swing said elements outward, and a spring between said sleeve and conical portion and constructed to normally permit said elements to dependv in their inoperative posi- `tion, but to move said conical portion on said elements and swing the elements outward upon sudden drop of the device.

4.. A pipe `gripping device comprising a member with gripping elements mounted thereon and having lugs to vengage said member and prevent excess outward movement oti said elements, vand s ring actuated means arranged to leave said) elements inoperative during normal descent ,oit said device but to force said 'eiementsinto operative position' upon sudden drop of the' device.

5.'A pipe gripping device comprising a member with gripping elements pivoted thereon, spring actuated means slidable in said member and having a conical portion for moving said elements into pipe gripping position, and stop means on said elements and conical portion to engage' and torce release movement of said elements. l 6. A pipe gripping device comprising a member with gripping elements pivoted thereon, spring actuated means slidably mounted in said member and having a portion for moving said elements into pipe gripping position, and fingers on said grippin elements for limiting excessive outward movement thereof.

pipe gripping device comprising a tube with a conical portion and a neck thereon, guide means on said tube for guiding it centrally in a pipe, a sleeve slidabiy supported on said tube, gripping elements swingably mounted on said sleeve, means on said elements for preventing excessive outward movement thereof, cooperating hook" means on said elements and said conical portion to engage and force release movement ot said elements, and a spring seated in said sleeve and bearing on said neck for moving said conical rtion to torce said elements into pipe. gripping position upon sudden descent oi said device but to permit said sleeve and elements to move to inoperative position upon gradual descent of said device. in testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specicati'on.

ritrae operar iinoniinn. 

